The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-02-26
II am going off, he said. "Say good-by

dCIHSt.
Il don't know Anywhere!" he shouted
back.
The Colonel followed him into the stable,
where he was giving directions about his
horse, and tried 10 draw him aside. But
Percy resisted.
Cant you let fellow alone?" he said.
Ill don't feel very we'll. They're too
lively for me up there. Now then'-to the
bring him out
In another instant he was IN the saddle
and Gathering up the avenue.
The record is kept at Castle Ettrick TO this
day of Percy's dare devil ride that evening.
His horse was strong, fresh, and full OF
corn, and he spared neither him nor HIM
self. He was possessed of that impulse
which comes 20 MS all sometimes-the i'm
pulse to rush away from our trouble-to
hide our humiliation from the eyes OF the
world by hiding ourselves.
An hour later one of the shooting party
returning quietly to Castle Ettrck, after the
sport of the day, saw against the sky the
figure Of man on horseback, flying at
what seemed to him tremendous pace
over the moor. He stood watching until il
disappeared III the shadow of the hills.
Either that horse or man is running
away" he said to himself, as he turned to
pursue his way.
When Colonel Lyndon returned to the
Castle, Percy was still out. After what had
passed between himself and Lady Flora,
he felt bound to tell her that he had not
left him at Deep Deane, and that there had
been some little disturbance there.
Il know nothing for certain he said;
"but l believe Percy asked, and was re-
fused. This is between ourselves, of
course"
Lady Flora turned very pale.
If il is SO We shall soon find out she
answered. Il wonder where the poor boy
is now?"
That is more than l can tell you Lady
Flora. He left Deep Deane about an hour
before did.
Il hope-I hope-he has met with no ac-
cident. What was he riding?'
Prince Charlie-the safest and strongest
horse in AIr. Winstanley's stables. am
sure there is no fear of that. He is taking
longer ride than usual We shall see
him home before night said the Colonel
reassuringly.
Dinner came and passed, Mr.. Winstan-
lev, who himself made all his arrangements
beforehand when the house was full of
visitors, was considerably annoyed by
Percy's empty place; and Lady Flora was
in an agony of nervousness lest any i'll
chance should have come 10 her darling, SO
that the dinner hour, which at these sea-
sons was generally the gayest of the day at
Castle Ettrick, dragged miserably.
The ladies left the table early, and Lady
Flora, who could bear the suspense no
longer, made a sign to Colonel Lyndon to
follow her.
II must do something; l must send some
where" she said, drawing him into the en-
brasure of & window.
Percy may have come back, he said.
Il will find ont"
In very few moments, as the poor lady
sat trembling among her guests, she saw
the Colonel on the terrace, and, making an
excuse to them, stepped out of one of the
open windows and joined him.
Good newsi" she said, breathlessly. /
read it in your face"
i hope you will call it good news" he
answered. Your son has come back, and
is in his own ROOM
:" will 60 to him, she said.
"If might venture to advise you, Lady
Flora, l should leave him to himself. He
is naturally little irritable"
"Ah. WE'LL you know best; but the thought
of his trouble cuts me to the heart. Still.
that he is safe is grand thing. How could
she-how could any one-be so cruel?' said
poor Lady Flora.
1t was certainly mystery-and a mys-
terry it was destined to remain for some
considerable time. Percy did not rush
off 10 the ends of the earth, as had been
his int antion when he started on that wild
ride. The ends of the earth are easy to
talk Of, but very difficult to find. He did
not even rejein bis regiment. which, IN
der the circumstances, would have been as
sensible a proceeding as he could have
taken. He remained at home. lowering
like singed moth round the flame hat
threatened TO devour him. and making
every one, and especially his mother and
little sister, wretched by his moody temper
and his wild projects.
INDUCED from his infancy, and accus-
toned to til nix himself of the greatest I'M
portance in the sum of things, Percy could
not be tolerant of defeat. He was angry
and impatient under it. His sunny temper
and charming manners seemed for the tine
to have evaporated. He talked cynically,
was wrapped in gloom, and ceased from
that pleasant consideration of the feelings
and wishes of others which had made his
principal charm.
Lest Percy should lose altogether the
sympathy of some who may have begun TO
take al interest in him, let me say. in
passing, that there was nothing alb
normal i'll the change that had come to
him. Kind women all over the world
are forming men after his type. If we
bring up our darlings in an atmosphere OF
indulgence. If We teach them to believe
that the world is made for them, and that
Others. save rs they can minister TO then
comfort and pleasure, have no right there,
what are we to expect when Nature, who
has no favorites, takes them in hand? Sur
prise and Indignation, as first result, GER
tainly. And these were what Percy felt.
His mother, who, while she could not
help feeling very angry with Veronica
for refusing him, felt little
| angry with herself for her blindness
in thinking that he could not be
refused, was wonderfully patient and gen.
tie with him. 1t was only when, having
gathered from Janet that his suit was hope
less, he began TO talk wildly of leaving the
English army, and engaging himself as a
soldier IN O foreign country, that she be-
gan to feel angry with him, and then there
were one or two little contests between
| them which had no result but to embittel
Percys feelings and her own.
Milly was the witness of one of these
scenes, and she told Lefty about it, weep
ing. The two had left Deep Deane by this
| time, and were hard at work on their les
sons.
"Oh, Lefty" she cried, "what
shall We do? Percy is so I'M
happy. And poor mother cries ev-
cry evening. And he is talking of going
away now, and getting himself killed
away into Turkey or Russia, where, they
say, there will be war soon. And if he
does so mother will die, know she will,
sobbed poor little AIilly.
Lefty comforted her as we'll as she could
Her brother was talking wildly, she said
he did not know what he was SAYING. In
q little time he would be himself again
But calmly as she spoke, her gentle heart
was burning with such an anger as she had
never felt before. How could he-how
could any one-Inake those who loved him
miserable Only because he was SUFFERING
himself? Ones own happiness--one's owl
comfort--'t was such little thing to LEFTY
who, indeed. had not been brought up in
the lap of indulgence, that she found il
difficult 10 imagine how it could be chosen
by any human being before the happiness
and comfort of others. 1t had been this
element IN Percys nature-his sunny tenn
| per, and his readiness 20 serve others
which, before his unhappiness, had made
Lefty admire lin. That one disappoiut-
oh